Precious-metal-recovery machine



May 1, 1928. 1,668,162 C. LOVERIDGE ET AL PRECIOUS METAL RECOVERY MACHINE Filed Oct. 6; 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 c. LOVERIDGE ET AL PRECIOUS METAL; RECOVERY MACHINE Filed Oct. 6. 1925 May 1, 1928.

4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Mimi . /nve [Z HI/en E. Cox

May 1 1926. 1,666,162

C. LOVERIDGE ET AL PRECIOUS METAL RECOVERY MACHINE Filed OOt. 6, 1925 4 Shets-Sheet s May 1, 1928. 1,668,162

C. LOVERIDGE ET AL PRECIOUS METAL RECOVERY MACHINE Filed Oct. 6, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented May 1,1928.

UNITED STAT 1 1,668,162 PATENT on ness.

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Application and were, .1925. Serial mi. 60,1961

forth in the appended claims, and a pre" ferred-form of embodimentfof which is hereinafter shown with reference to the drawings which accompany and form a part of this specification.

Inthe drawings F ig. I is a side elevation of the assembled device. p p

Fig; 2is a cross sectional, side elevation, of the assembled device.

Fig, 3 is' a secti'onal,'plan view,taken,on line of Fi g. .1, looking. in the direction indicated; V p

F ig .,4 isia sectional, plan view, taken. on line ofFig: 1,,1ooking. in the direction indicated.v V l I h Fig; 5 is apartial, end elevation, takenon line 5+5 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction indicated. i

F ig..6 is a partial, endview, t'akenonline 6-6-of Fig. 1, looking in the direction indicated.

Fig. 7 is a plan view, partially insection of the nozzle outlet; of a preferred forinof. one embodiment of. our device as used at the point ofthe jump rifile. y

Fig. 8 iseanieinlview, of the mechanism, shown in Fig. 7. s M p Fig 9 is-a preferred? embodiment of our device asthesan'leisapplicable for use in a sluice boxrwherein tliefsame may beused'fin conjunction with. hydraulic mining, wliere hydraulic giants areheingfusedl. r I

Figs 10 shows a formQof. amalgam plat'e for use a where gold is being recovered: and is shown in dotted HOSihlOlrlitFlg: 2; 1

Fig. 11* is a.sect onal;elevationptalien on tion indicated,"

, the directionindicated;

line 1-1,1 1-0f looking in the direc- Fig. 13 is a partial, sectional View, taken on line 13-43 of Fig, 11, looking inthe directionindicated,and' is made to further ill'ustrate the mechanism shown in F ig; 12. i

Like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views.

Our machine comprises a structural frame 1, which has suitable cross ties and tie struts for maintaining the same in a rigid working condition; and is preferably mounted on suitable means for moving the same from place to place, which maybe skids and shown at 2.

Disposed at or near the top of the frame structure is a revolving cylindrical screen 3, properly mounted and supported within the frame structure; the revolving screen is inclined at an angle to facilitate the passage of the material therethrougli, and having one or more longitiuflinal transverse bars 4,

.to facilitate the agitationof the material being passed therethroi'i-gli as the screen is revolved. Oneor more bands 6, aredisposed upon the inner periplieryof the cylindrical screen having a substantial depth to create riffies within the revolving screen. These bands 6, will, prevent the rapid passage of the material, being treated, through the screen and at the same time will create additional a t-atio'n of the materials being treated? '1 1e spout 5, isarranged. at the inlet "end" of the revolving screen, iiito which theniaterial' is deposited to be fed into the screen. To facilitate the saturation of the materials deposited within the revolting screen, we have provided a pipe (3, having a discharge outlet disposed along the under side thereof. Water under pressure is supplied to the pipe from a source ofsnpply so that. the water is discharged in spray like formation from the, openings therefrom and is supplied. in sufiicient quantity to thoroughly saturate the quantity of material being assed through the screen.

'1 1ematerial's to he recovered in lmost operations are-in the liner materials, and nc of'the objects of thescreen to segregate the-coarser material final-the fine-as an initial. operation, the coarser materiah being discharged from the-outlet end' 8, ofthe revolving screen. The finer materials passing tliroughthe openings in the screen are deposited uponthef slide 9, from whence the sanie arewashedbythe water being deposited within thefsoreenl and the same are then deposited upon the upper screen 10, which has openings therethrough to facilitate a further segregation of the coarser materials from the fine materials. This screen, as well as the one disposed therebeneath, have imparted a vanner or jiglike movement to the same to facilitate the feeding of the materials down the sloping surface of the screens and to facilitate the passage of the finer materials therethrough. Disposed at the lower or discharge end of screen 10, is an opening 11, across which the materials of lighter specific gravity will pass; the heavier materials, or the materials of a high specific gravity drop through. A nozzle 12, is disposed immediately below the edge of the opening or jump riille 1'1, and discharges water under a fairly high pressure to form a sheet of water upon which the materials of a lesser specific gravity ride and are carried across the opening. Materials of a higher specific gravity drop through the water sheet.

A second screen 13, is disposed below the upper screen 10, and has placed at the lower outlet thereof, a second water jet 14, for the same purpose as heretofore described for the nozzle 12. Side board members 15 and 16, are disposed at the lower end of the screen, to form a restricted opening outlet above the nozzle 12. This is best shown in Fig. 3. A fanlike water discharge is created at the nozzle outlet reaching its maximum supporting value at the outlet from the screen and reaching across the jump riflle 11.

An amalgam plate 17, as shown in Fig. 13, and shown in dotted position in Fig. 2, is placed therein and coated with suitable material as mercury, to cause the precious metals, as gold, to be recovered thereupon.

A shaft 18, is disposed across the machine and supported upon the frame structure, having an eccentric 19, secured thereto and an eccentric strap 20, secured to the connecting rod 21, and secured to the screen frame by a bracket 22. The shaft 18, imparts a vanner or jiglike movement to the screen upon the rotation of the shaft 18. This shaft is rotated by suitable power means.

The finer and lighter materials that are not recovered, are deposited from the machine through the outlet 23, as best shown in Fig. 2.

All of the items of a high specific gravity that drop through openings or jump rifiles 11 and 24, and other items not heretofore separated are deposited upon the inclined table 25, which is inclinedto the horizontal in its transverse length and has a rocking motion imparted thereto, the same being supported transversely its length, and has a series of header pipes 26, across the same being supplied with water under a fairly high pressure through an inlet 27 the same leading through outlets 28 and 29, from the inlet pipe and running'along either side of the same so that the outlet pipes 26, are fed from both ends in order that a uniform and steady pressure may be applied. Slotted outlets 30, are provided in cross pipes 26, for discharging therefrom water in a sheetlike formation to further agitate the materials for deposit thereupon to wash the same and to facilitate the passage of the material across the screen; the washing effect being further facilitated by the rocking motion being imparted thereto.

The breadth of openings at the jump rifll locations will depend upon the character of material being treated and the specific gravity of the materials, the breadth will also depend upon the water pressure at the nozzle outlet. To regulate the breadth of opening we have provided slots 31 and 32 in the outlet aprons 33 and 34 through which the threaded pins 35 and 36 work. These thread-, ed pins are in theaded relation with the side walls of the screen frame of the machine and when the breadth of the opening has been determined, the aprons may then be secured in place by tightening the threaded pins so that the head of the same, clamp the aprons in place.

To facilitate the cleaning of the screens and to further facilitate the passage of the materials being treated across the screens, as well as to break up the larger pieces that may be loosely held together, we have provided a means for violently jarring the screens central of their edges. A spring 37, is secured to the base 38, and is maintained in a position central of the edges of the screens. A plunger 39, is disposed above the spring 37 and registers with the inner surface of the spring and is normally held in a quiescent condition. in relationship with the screens by suit- The plunger is held' able locking nuts 40 and 41, that tend to maintain a spaced relation between the screens and to maintain the same in a working relationship with each other, and to support the same and prevent them from sagging. The plunger 39, has a head on its upper end against which the revolving pawl 43,

engages to compress the spring, and as the plunger is depressed the screens are lowered and as the pawl disengages from the head of the plunger the spring is released and in doing so a rebound is imparted to the screens which is of a violent nature. The pawl is secured to the shaft 44, which is adapted to be rotated by suitable driving means from the prime mover, that imparts operation to the device. An opening 45, is provided through which the washed articles of a high Specific gravity drop, the breadth of this opening is subject to regulation through the slide 46, which maybe changed to regulate the breadth of the opening to meet the working conditions. The washed and recovered materials are finally dropped upon the screen 48, from where the materials are recovered as a commercial product. A rocking motion 15 nnparted to the structure 25, by supporting the unit as a whole, central of its length as by bearing blocks and 51, having registered therewith the bearing blocks 52 and 53, each set of bearing blocks having a journal pin 54 and 55 about which the structure rocks. The connecting rod 56, is secured to the eccentric strap 57, which engages with the eccentric 58, which is fixed upon the shaft 58. Secured to the shaft 58, is a driving pulley 59, for rotating the shaft. The upper end of theeccentric rod 56, is secured to the base of the unit 25, through the means of the bearing block 59, and the journal pin 60. As the eccentric is rotated a rocking motion is imparted to the unit 25.

A header pipe 61 is supplied with a liquid, as water under pressure, from a source of supply not here shown, which has a series of cross pipes 62, attached thereto and which have caps63, for closing the ends of the same. The liquid pumped under pressure, is discharged through these pipes 62, and deposited therefrom upon the screens disposed below the same, and over which the materials to be recovered, are made to pass. It may be found desirable to use this in, conjunction with sluice boxes that are for use in conjunction with hydraulic mining, wherein the sluice box frame 64, has a series of jump riflies disposed therein, as shown at 65 and 66. These jump riflles are operated in a manner similar to that heretofore described, wherein Water jets are disposed thereacross for carrying the articles of a lighter specific gravity thereacross and permit materials of a high specific gravity to drop therethrough. 7

Another preferred form of embodiment of our device is illustrated in Figs. 12 and 13, wherein a jarring motion or effect is created upon the upper screens which is accomplished by the lever 67, being secured to the frame structure of the machine and which rocks the shaft 44, as the vanner movement is imparted to the screening structure. The head 68 disposed above the spring members disposed midway the screening sections and attached to the plunger 39, as the rotation of the shaft .44, by the engagement of the lever 67 therewith. The pawl engages on the under side of the head 68 and lifts the same up, as shown in the dotted position in Fig. 12 and Fig. ,13, and when the same is disengaged therefrom the spring 37, causes a rebound to the plunger 39 and -we do not wish, therefore, to be limited to the use of water for this purpose.

VVhile the form of mechanism herein shown and described is admirably adapted to fulfill the'objects primarily stated, it is to be understood that it is not intended to confine the invention to the one form of embodiment herein shown and described, as

-it is susceptible of embodiment in various forms, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

lVhat we claim is l. A precious metal recovery machine, screen sizing elements including flat reciprocating screens having jump gaps at their discharge ends, a stratifying table below the same, means for delivering the material passing through thergaps to said stratifying table, and means for discharging the material passing over the gaps away from the machine.

2. In a precious metal recovery machine, screen sizing elements including fiat reciproeating screens having jump gaps at their discharge ends; means causing the light matter passing over the flat screens to pass over the jump gaps and allowing the heavy material to pass therethrough; a stratifying table below the fiat screens; means for delivering the material passing through the gaps to said stratifying table; and means for discharging thematerial passing over the gaps away from the machine.

CHARLES LOVERIDGE.

ALLEN E. COX. 

